Challenges to the Religious Settlement

Remember – This section will look at the challenge to her settlement, not her crown

Understanding the challenges

• As we go through this next part of the course, it should be organised in your books very clearly

• PURITAN challenges to the Settlement

• CATHOLIC challenges to the Settlement

• Then our job is to be able to explain what both threats were, and be able to decide which was the biggest threat…

Timeline

1558Elizabeth

becomes Queen

1566Pope tells Catholics

not to go to Elizabeth’s churches

1568Catholic Mary Queen of Scots

arrives in England

1569Northern Nobles

rebel in the “Northern Rebellion”

1570Papal Bull -

Excommunication

1565Puritan Bishops

and Clergy refusing to wear the vestments

1566Archbishop of

Canterbury makes Puritan Clergy

wear the vestments

1559Religious

Settlement

1558 1570

Put English Catholics in a difficult position, loyalty to their political leader, or their spiritual leader

When Mary I was queen of England, 284 Protestants were burned. Many more escaped to more tolerant Protestant states in Europe, such as the Netherlands. They returned to England when Elizabeth inherited the throne as much more committed and radical Protestants.

These Protestants were referred to as Puritans as they wanted to ‘purify’ the Christian religion by getting rid of anything that wasn’t in the Bible.

Puritans didn’t believe in hierarchy and wanted to manage their own churches by themselves rather than bishops or the pope choosing for them. This also meant in this system, there would be no role for the queen as head of the Church

The Puritan churches would be very basic, without alters (the table in a church where mass is performed) in some cases.

2 clips in Puritan folder (Blackadder & Horrible Histories

The Puritan ChallengeWe Puritans hoped Elizabeth’s religious reforms

would be the start of more Protestant developments to the CofE, but no, she has chosen a middle ground to avoid conflict with the Catholics! Our Protestant bishops are putting up the biggest challenge from

within the Church!

Specific challenges from the Puritans to Elizabeth’s demands:

• Ignoring or disobeying parts of the Settlement• Should people kneel to receive communion• Abolishing organ music with hymns (this didn't please the

ordinary people)

There were 2 main issues:• Crucifixes• Clothing

What do the Puritans want?Were they happy with what they got?

What is Elizabeth’s view of the Puritans?

The Crucifix Controversy

• Puritans viewed the crucifix as an idol which was worshipped

• Elizabeth liked them and wanted churches to keep their familiar look & feel

• It was important to keep these for Elizabeth as she didn't want to anger the Catholics who viewed the crucifix as central to their churches and services

• She also didn't want to change too much, too quickly

• Elizabeth demanded that every church should display a crucifix

• Some Puritan bishops threatened to resign – the queen backed down! She did insist a crucifix should be kept in the Royal Chapel as a compromise!

Puritans 1 – 0 Elizabeth

Why did Elizabeth have to back down?

On a scale of 1 (none) – 5 Critical, how threatening was this crisis? –EXPLAIN WHY

The Vestment Controversy

• What priests wore was another issue for the Puritans

• Some thought that they should not have special clothing at all!

• Others believe it should be very plain and simple

• Elaborate vestments suggested that priests were set above ordinary people, as in the Catholic faith, where the priests were special and had the power to turn bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. They could also forgive sins.

• Protestants did not believe this

• Elizabeth wanted the clergy to wear special vestments (as set out in the Royal injunctions)

• By 1565 – it was clear not all clergy were wearing the vestments and therefore not following her commands

The Vestment Controversy

• In 1566, Archbishop of Canterbury, Matthew Parker, issued further guidance in his ‘Book of Advertisements’ – these followed Elizabeth’s commands.• He invited 110 priests to London to show

them what they MUST wear and WHEN.• 37 refused to attend and lost their jobs!• The majority of priests consented

Puritans 1 – 1 Elizabeth

On a scale of 1 (none) –5 Critical, how threatening was this crisis? – EXPLAIN WHY

Other Puritan opposition

• Puritans in Parliament known as the Puritan Choir were a nuisance, they’d shout and disrupt Elizabeth, challenging the settlement making it harder to pass the act.

• They demanded closer consultation about future changes again threatening the settlement

• Some Puritan bishops appointed enthusiastic preachers who attacked the settlement – their enthusiasm meant people would like them and maybe start listening to them, therefore challenging the settlement

• Many Puritans looked to John Knox who attacked the idea of a female ruler and her legitimacy as Supreme governor of the Church

• Remember, Puritans don’t believe in Hierarchy

Homework – Due:

Puritan challenges to

the Settlement

1) Complete a large, detailed mind map of the Puritan challenge using your notes from today and this powerpoint on the website. (What did they want, what they got etc)2) Write a mini essay (2 paragraphs) explaining how the puritan challenge was significant and how it wasn’t (2 sided argument) – Use your danger ratings to help

Catholic Challenge to the settlement

• Worksheet is on the wesbite next to this link >>>

• With some hints along the way

Papal Bull: A letter from the Pope with a message

Excommuncation: A punishment from the Pope banning you from taking communion and therefore not being able to get into heaven. This was a SERIOUS threat in Tudor times

Catholic Threats

The Pope

The fear of Catholic Nobles

Elizabeth not being

strict enough

English people not attending

church

The power of the Bishops from Mary’s

reign

England 90% Catholic

Mary, Queen of

Scots

Papal Bull & Excommunication

Which of these are threats generally and which are threats directly to the Settlement?

The Catholic Challenge 1:

The Pope (Papacy):Although the Catholic Church (pope) was trying to stop the spread of Protestantism throughout Europe, it was also trying to restore the power of Catholicism by persecuting heretics and encouraging war against Protestants (Counter-Reformation). How might this affect England?

• 1566: The Pope issued an instruction to the English Catholics that they should not attend Elizabeth’s CofE

• Although Elizabeth’s punishments for not attending were generally not aggressively enforced, following this order from The Pope, repeat offenders were punished with fines, imprisonment, loss of property, job and even life!

• Elizabeth was cautious to not create ‘MARTYRS’ and ignored smaller examples of disobedience

How dangerous to Elizabeth & the Religious Settlement was the papacy? 1 Not at all - 5 Extremely

Why would the people not going to Church be a

problem?

Interpretations Check-point

Interpretation 1: Historians Turvey & Heard… The Settlement had mixed success. It largely succeeded in establishing a broadly based national Church which excluded as few people as possible... On the other hand, the Settlement not only failed to attract Puritans but... devout (seriously committed) Catholics were likewise marginalised(sidelined/ignored) with the consequence of encouraging opposition and non-conformity.

Interpretation 2: HistorianBarbara MervynBy 1568, Elizabeth’s policies seemed to be working. The early problems caused by the Settlement seemed to be fading. The majority of Catholics outwardly (publicly) conformed (followed the rules and expectations), without any real leadership from the Pope, they were politically loyal to Elizabeth.

BRIEFLY summarise these interpretations of Elizabeth’s Religious Settlement, then

choose which you agree with most

Catholic Challenge 2:England’s Nobility

Most of England’s nobles were Catholic, especially in the north. Elizabeth relied on these nobles for war and maintaining order around the country. They also paid her a lot of money (Feudal System).

• It is estimated that 1/3 of the nobles were ‘recusants’, especially in the north-west

• The Earls of Northumberland and Westmorland were very powerful northern nobles who remained Catholic- They have been very powerful and influential during the reign of Mary I, but lost their power and influence at Court under Elizabeth I.

• The Nobility also hated the fact that Elizabeth’s favourites at Court were lower born nobility or not noble at all, Robert Dudley and William Cecil.

The Northern Rebellion 1569:

• Watch this clip and make a list of causes, events and outcomes of the Northern Rebellion

Northern Rebellion 1569

• Northumberland & Westmorland led a rebellion in the north of England

• They took Durham Cathedral and celebrated a full Catholic mass.

• Part of it was to marry Mary, Queen of Scots to Duke of Norfolk then replace Elizabeth making England Catholic

• Many other northern Catholics joined the rebellion as it marched south

• Elizabeth dealt with the rebels extremely with very public and brutal executions

Other Catholic opposition

• Large numbers of Catholic nobles / Marian Bishops in the House of Lords presented a continuing threat to the Settlement both before and after it being passed

• The fear of a Catholic noble uprising was ever present based on their power and resources especially after the Settlement was passed

• The Papal Bull of excommunication 1570 and telling Catholics not to attend Elizabeth’s Church was a massive challenge (90% of England Catholic)

• The Settlement being so moderate meant it was continually challenged

Homework – Due:

Catholic challenges to

the Settlement

1) Complete a large, detailed mind map of the Catholic challenge using your notes from today and this powerpoint on the website. 2) Write a mini essay (2 paragraphs) explaining how the Catholic challenge was significant and how it wasn’t (2 sided argument) – Use your danger ratings to help